Dawn spread its pink and gold fingers through the air as Rei stepped out of the temple and slid the door closed behind her. Her grandfather still slept but she wanted to watch the town wake up. The early chill pressed her uniform against her as her sandals slapped against the wooden porch. She leaned against one of the pillars and sighed as she gazed over the sleeping town. She looked down and drew back, "Erin, what are you doing here?"
Erin sat on the steps, gazing at the town for a moment longer before answering, "The documentary, remember? The session begins when you wake up."
"Don't you sleep?" Rei gasped, "Were you here all night?"
"Sometimes I sleep," Erin replied, "And documentary is my job, I want to do it right."
"I guess so," Rei murmured, "where do you know Darien from?"
"He and I grew up together in an orphanage, didn't he tell you? He was always kind of sullen, kept to himself like he wanted something more. Frankly, I'm surprise he hooked up with you. All of you just seem so happy while Darien, well, is not."
"You know that Darien is Tuxedo Mask, right?" Erin nodded. Rei continued, "When we figured that out, the rest was just destiny, I suppose. We work together a lot; I guess we just became friends after a while. Serena and Darien were lovers and will be married in the future, we kinda had no choice about that."
"You wanted to be with Darien, before you knew he was tuxedo mask, didn't you?" Rei made a small sound and Erin continued, gaze still fixed on the city below, "Do you still want to be with him, knowing what you know now? It wouldn't be hard to set up, you know. And the future changes too. Rini only came from one future; there are many possibilities that haven't been realized."
"How did you know about Rini?" Rei shouted, glaring down at Erin. The air began to heat up rapidly and a shrill cackle split the air. Rei and Erin looked up to see the Crimson Celest floating down.
Erin stood up and turned around, "Squad 2, shut Rei off and take her home. Don't be seen. Arie will instruct you from there." Two darts whizzed through the air and struck Rei in the back of the neck. Her body crumpled. She heard Erin apologize. She saw the Crimson Celest level with Erin. Everything went black.
"We had a deal," Erin said to the Crimson Celest, "We wouldn't meet and I would deliver the Scouts." Four padded soldiers ran forward to pick up Rei, looked once at the burning visage of the Crimson Celest, and ran back into the foliage.
"You work too slowly, human," the Celest shrieked, "You've met with them, why don't you have any of them."
"Patience and subtlety, Celest," Erin replied, "I will give you ripened fruits well plucked, not hard and bitter hostages."
"I don't want hostages, fool," the Celest snapped, "I want them dead so this planet will be mine. You have until tonight to deliver them or you will not see tomorrow." The Celest flapped its wings once and flapped away.
Erin's shoulders dropped and he shook his head, "I'll have to move up the schedule. Give the customer what they want, or so they say. Russians are better than this, eich."